The holiday season tends to be one of the busiest stretches of the year for custom apparel orders, and production schedules fill up faster than most people expect. If you’re planning custom apparel for a holiday party, a year-end staff gift, or a seasonal fundraiser, a little planning upfront goes a long way.
Here’s what’s worth knowing before you get started.
Give yourself more lead time than you think you need
A standard order takes two to three weeks from final artwork approval to delivery, and that timeline doesn’t account for design revisions, proof approvals, or the added volume print shops handle toward the end of the year. If your event or distribution date falls in mid-December, getting your order placed and artwork approved well before Thanksgiving gives you plenty of room to work comfortably.
The earlier you lock things in, the more flexibility everyone has on garments, turnaround, and any adjustments that come up along the way.
Come in with as many decisions made as possible
Holiday orders sometimes involve more moving parts than a standard run: multiple garment styles, specific colorways, or apparel going out to a list of people with specific sizes. Getting clear on those details before you start the conversation with your print shop moves things along considerably.
If you’re ordering for a team or a staff list, collect sizes before you finalize. If you’re doing a gift with a range of options, settle on the style and quantity before artwork conversations begin. The more decisions that are already made, the faster the process goes.
Check garment availability early
Certain blanks, especially popular colors of in-demand styles, can sell out or go on backorder during peak season. If you have a specific garment in mind, confirming availability early is worth the extra step. If your first choice isn’t available, there are almost always comparable alternatives, and that conversation is easier to have with time on your side.
Simpler designs work in your favor when the timeline is tighter
Complex designs with many colors or intricate detail take more time to produce than straightforward ones. A clean, well-executed print on a quality blank tends to look more intentional than a complicated design anyway. If you’re working within a tighter window, keeping the artwork simple is both a practical and aesthetic choice.
Rush production is sometimes available, but planning around it is better
Depending on shop capacity and order complexity, rush production is occasionally possible. It typically comes at an added cost and isn’t always an option during peak season. The easier path is building enough lead time into the original plan.
At Tiny, we do our best to work with whatever timeline a customer is dealing with. The earlier you get in touch, the more we can do. Start your holiday order here.